Toni Kroos grinned. Of course this question had to come up. For a long time there was speculation about his future at Real Madrid, most recently media reports circulated about a contract extension, coach Carlo Ancelotti had already expressed confidence months ago. But the midfield strategist himself has remained silent about the rumors that could be read in the gazettes – until now.
“Sometimes it’s enough to read around it,” Kroos joked on “Prime Video” after the 2-0 (0-0) win at Chelsea in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. After two sovereign appearances against the currently struggling English, the world champion of 2014 is again reaching for the coveted pot with the royal team and the hunt for the title should continue in the coming season.
“Everything is on the right track,” assured Kroos when asked about an extension of his expiring contract by another year until 2024. However, he wanted to respect “what the club wants, what, when, how and where is communicated”. The official announcement could be a long time coming, but Kroos left no doubts about his intention to continue the success story in Spain.
Real coach Ancelotti praises Kroos’ physical condition
There is “a great relationship of trust” between him and Real and it will “most likely go on for a while,” emphasized the 33-year-old: “Theoretically I could have signed somewhere else since January 1, but we don’t have that nonsense at all just started.”
Why should he? In 2014 Kroos moved to Madrid from the German record champions Bayern Munich, since then he has won four of his five Champions League titles with Real in addition to three Spanish championships and is now well on the way to adding another after reaching the semi-finals.
Rodrygo (58th, 80th) shot the Spanish record champions into the next round of the premier class at Stamford Bridge and thus continued towards defending the title. In the starting eleven, Ancelotti also relied on “legend” Kroos, who, according to the coach, is still in “great shape” physically and mentally.
Kroos refused an extension last year
“Overall, we have a team that has experienced a lot together, that has had to suffer a lot in many games,” said Kroos after the game: “If you survive such phases and often leave the field as a winner, you have the calm and the Think we can make it.”
For team-mate Antonio Rüdiger, who came on against his former club Chelsea in the second half, Kroos is crucial for this certain composure alongside real star Luka Modric. “If rest, why should we be nervous?” In his eyes, the two veterans are “irreplaceable,” explained the international.
According to the Spanish sports newspaper “Marca”, Real had already submitted an offer to extend the contract a year ago, which Kroos is said to have rejected at the time because he wanted to wait and see how his form developed. Kroos has now apparently dispelled the doubts, but he does not even let them arise on another topic: a return to the national team is not up for debate.
“When a North German makes such a decision,” said Kroos, “then it’s set in stone.”
